German Mobility Centre

Are you planning a research visit in Germany?
Please find information and counselling here...

First Things First

Warm welcome to Duisburg and Essen!
We at the University of Duisburg-Essen are happy to welcome you! Our university is known for its international outlook, open approach, and support of global knowledge exchange - we are excited that you will be joining our community and hope to help you feel at home during your stay.

Prior to any period spent abroad it's natural that you will have many professional, financial, and organisational questions about your visit. To help you prepare and to give you a reference while in Germany we have put together a brochure for you, filled with answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" about things like visas, insurance, and even things to do in the area. Although probably not everything in this brochure is personally relevant, we hope you can think of this brochure like you think of a large telephone book: You may never need all of it, but it's nice to have it handy, just in case.

What should you do if you have other questions? We would recommend you check first with the institute supervising your stay and colleagues there, since they can provide first-hand experience and tips. And, for questions that they are unable to answer, please feel free to contact us at the International Office!

Preliminary thoughts

The Most Important Steps for Post-docs in brief

  • Please direct your enquiries directly to the head of department, institute or faculty of your scientific interest (see also 1.2 of our brochure). The International Office will gladly help with your enquiries.
  • You should make sure that your plans are financially feasible within any specified period of time.
  • It is advisable to wait until you receive an official written invitation or hosting agreement from the University of Duisburg-Essen before applying for a visa; the invitation should include the exact period of the visit and, for nationals of non-EU or non-EEA countries (Iceland    , Liechtenstein, and Norway), stipulate the purpose of your stay in Germany. Such a document considerably facilitates the process of receiving a visa.
  • If you are a citizen of a non-EU or a non-EEA country, be sure to give yourself plenty of time (up to several months) for the visa application (see 1.6 and Chapter 3) after you receive the written invitation.
  • Visiting scholars should make sure they have sufficient health insurance to cover their stay in Germany (see 1.7 and 5.6).

The Most Important Steps for Doctoral Students in brief

  • Doctoral students engaged in research will be normally advised by admissions section of the International Office For the application procedure please visit web page.
  • You should make sure that your plans are financially feasible within any specified period of time.
  • After receiving the admission letter you can apply for visa and can enter the country as student with the 'student residence permit', called in German "Aufenthaltstitel zum Zweck des Studiums".
  • Being registered as a student you can obtain a reasonably priced health insurance in Germany (see 1.7 and 5.6).

Further information

Topics of our brochure:

  1. Prior to Travel
  2. Contacts at the UDE
  3. Residence Regulations
  4. Research and Employment at the UDE
  5. After Arriving in Germany
  6. On Campus - Infrastructure
  7. Off Campus - Life in Duisburg and Essen
  8. Before Returning Home

Further information